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More bushfires threaten Sydney
By Grant Holloway
SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Bushfires are again threatening properties in Australia's largest city, Sydney, after two days of high temperatures and bone dry conditions. Fourteen fire brigades were battling a blaze on Sydney's western fringe Tuesday while more than 100 other firefighters were attempting to control a major fire just south of the port city of Newcastle to Sydney's north. A total fire ban is in force across most of New South Wales state after two days of temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit) accompanied by strong dry winds. While a late change accompanied by thunderstorms is predicted for the Sydney area Wednesday, it may come too late to assist weary firefighters. Two giant waterbombing aircraft are now based in Sydney to help protect property and assist other aircraft and ground crews control the fires. NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Phil Koperberg told CNN firefighters were having to cope with unprecedented conditions and adopt new tactics due to the prolonged dry spell. Much of eastern and southern Australia has been gripped by seven months or more of drought, with many areas experiencing the driest conditions ever recorded. This follows more than two weeks of devastating blazes over the last Christmas holiday season and several breakouts over the past few months which have destroyed homes and property. The NSW fires have been the most devastating in the state's history with more than 6,000 square kilometers (4,000 square miles) of land burnt and nearly 200 properties destroyed. Koperberg said the early and hectic start to the bushfire season was starting to take its toll on firefighters. "They are tired and they're stretched and we have many more months to go," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australia's dry summers and vast tracts of combustible eucalyptus forest make bush fires a frequent event, but the expansion of city suburbs into native bush areas over the past few decades has increased the damaging impact of the infernos.
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